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fuel to a predetermined Reissued Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT GEORGE R". STEERE, or owosso, MICHIGAN, AssIGNo s. BY'NEs E. ASSIGNMENT-S, r o

SEMET-SOLVAY ENGINEERING CORPORATION, or NEW YORK, N. 2., A coaroaarro OF NEW YORK Original No. 1,608,680, dated. November 30, 1926, Serial No. 57,199, filed September 18, 1925. Application QHARGING momma for reissue filed December 8, 1927. SerialNo. 238,706.

This invention relates to charging machines and more particularly to an auto matic machine for charging gas generators.

One object of this invention is to provide a device for automatically charging a generator of a gas producing plant'or set,'the operation of which does not deleteriously affeet the gas-make thereby increasing the capacity and efiiciency' of the plant or set.

Another object of this invention is to provide a charging machine that can supply weighed or predetermined amounts of fuel to any desired portion of the fuel bedin the generator of the gas plant. Preferably small amounts at frequent intervals are deposited at predetermined portions of the fuel bed thereby maintaining uniform' conditions therein throughout the operation of the gas generator.

A further object of this invention is to provide a charging machine that can be readily and quickly secured to or removed from the charging opening of the gas generator.

. This invention comprises a charging. ma

chine havin a spreader adapted to be positioned within the charging opening of a gas generatorin combination'with means to intermittently move the spreader to direct portion-of the fuel bed in the generator.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in whichFig. 1 is a fragmentary v elevational view, partly broken away, showing the top portion of a generator of a gas plant and illustrating a preferred-embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1 with the conveyor removed; Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, corresponding to Fig. .1 and showing the fuel container in-communication with the fuel nozzle, including all of the hydraulic cylinder, the hand operating mechanism and associated parts; Fig. 4 is a frag- .mentary detail view of the elevating and lowering mechanism for the magazine of the charging device; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the liiie 55 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail showing the magazine in gas-tight engagement with thegenerator of a gas plant. w V

In the preferred embodiment" of the invention illustrated'on'the drawings, 5 indicates the top portion of a generator ofa gas Plant orset. '3

A truck or carriage 18 comprising a channel iron frame 20 secured together by plates has axles 23extending through one-'side 24 of the frame and through the central channel bar22. Secured to axles 23 are car wheels 25 adapted to runon rails 26. Supporting casters 28 are mounted on .theside 27 of the truck or carriage.

A magazine 29, which may be'supported on the carriage by shoulders 30 resting on the side 24 and on the center channel'iron'22 when the chargeriis not in position over the 'a shackle that is secured to a T-plate 36 on the magazine 29. The other end of. arms 32 is *divided into an upper lug 38' and a lowerlug 39.

These lugs 38 and are adapted to bear against lugs 40 on the side of the magazine 29 .so that when the hand screw .34 is turned in one direction the lower lug'39. willbea-r 21 and a central-cross channel iron or bar 22 V against lug 40 thereby raising the magazine,

and when thescrew 34is' turned in the-opposite direction the upper lug :38 willfpress against'lug 40 forcing. the magazine downward. 1

WVhen the carriage 18 is wheelediintolpositact with lug 40 forcing the magazine. downtion over the casting 31, the magazine 29is ion wardly and swingin the axle 23 and the car riage 19 upwardly a out the point of contact on the nozzle 31. There is ,thus an upward tthrujst bnthercasting 31 and, a dow ward pres-i sure onithe'magazine 29 exerted 'by'lugs 38 contacting with lugs 40 so that a gas-tight 7 joint is obtained between the magazine and the generator, When it isdesired. toremove the charging device for inspectlomrepairzor,

other purposes, the screw 34 is turned so that lngss39 move into contact with lugs 40 thus simultaneously lowering-the l axles 23. .and

carriage :18 sotliat the wheels of the'car- -riage. contact with" the rails 26. Further .tmovement of :screw '34 serves to elevate the magazine 29, lugs 39 moving aboutthe axle 23 as a pivot contacting with lug and elewating the magazine. The-icharging device scan then'be' readilym'oved to any desired position. 1 i

A, fuel nozzle 43' having a coverlseat 104 -around the top edge thereof is suitably positi0ned=on' the-"magazine 29i Fastened to the -,sile.of;the magazineadjacent the nozzle 43 is a hydraulic motor or cylinder44 having 'mounte'dtherein apiston shaft 45 that has a .mok46secured thereto by means .of bracket 47 andlbolts 48. .Aguideway 49 and roller brackets. :50 having rolls. '51 therein are :pro-

vided forguiding the rack 46. Shaft supports t52-extend from the fuel nozzle :43 and a supporting bracket 57 ex tends 'fromfithe hydraulic cylinder 44. A shaft '53 islrotatably mounted-in the supportingzbrackets 52 and 57 'andhassecuredthere- -to an arm 19 .the? end '17 of which is connect- ;ed to a nozzle cover 154 by a bolt and nut I Lever 58 issecured :to shaft '53 andis :connected by alink-- 63:to a'lever'62 secured :toa-shaft 65rpositioned in a -fuel container .66 pivoted on bearing pin .67 positioned zthrough supports 68 extending'up from the side 27 of :the carriage frame. Th'e shaft 53 is rocked by the reciprocatory movement of 'ithd piston :45 operated by the admi$ion and discharge ofa suitable pressure .fluid into and'ffrom-the hydraulic cylinder Pg-through 1 46, clipi'59 secured thereto and link "60 v connected "by pint-612m clip ;59{and by pin" 61 toclever 60' secured-tosha-ftfiiuj- "time ;container 66 is provided withan open portion 69.and an enclosed chuteend 70 leading therefrom. In this chute secured to :the

statues isa-eheck-gate f1 1; .Mounted on 'the [supports 68and connected with thepin'67 asc'a'le zthathas a weight arm 72 and a wteight'platform 73. T

An electric switch 174 is connected with the a'nm 72 .so that power supplied byfan .eleclrie motorr l05 to drive theconvey'or 7 5 overhanging thecontainer 66 can be automatically shut oil When 'a predetermined amount or weight of fuel is deposited in the container 66.

hydraulic =cylinder .76; mounted on the top of'the magazine 29 is provided with a piston-rod 77, of which the lower portion 78 eX- tcnds down into themagazine 29, and ,the upper. portion/Z9 extends through a .stufiing box 80, a p'acking'gland'lOOand a ratchet casing 81 which is held by supports "82 bolted or otherwise secured to the cylinder 7 6. Loose- 83on which is pivotally mounted a hand lever 84 provided with a protruding end or tooth -85.- Asprocketgear 86 is keyed-or otherwise secured to the rod :77 just below the ratchet easing81, BlVOlZGdOILthBglIlSldl-L of-the ratch- ;et casing-81, asshown in Fig.- 5, isa pawl 87 which isg arranged to, engage the teeth :of a ratchet gear 01- wheel88'having an inside pin 89 projecting-into aspiral; groove 90 formed in the rod-717;; 1 v

Itjwillzbe noted that therod 77 may be --raised and :lowered by the hydraulic cylinder 76'the distance between the stufiing box and-the casing-81.; On thedown stroke, the pin 89 in groove90'turns the ratchet wheel or geara88'so?that the teeth thereof pass pawl 87, the ratchet wheel Q88 and pin 89 moving irelative tovthe shaft 77 which is thusmaintained inwfi'xed or-non-rotatable position. 011

the return-stroke the pawl 87 sets in one of the teeth of the ratchet Wheel 88 preventingit from 1turning and thus holding the pin 89 fixedaor stationary, so thattherod 7 7 is moved relative to the ratchet wheel or gear.88 by the. :pin 89" traveling in the spiral groove 90. It WllLbGJfHIt'hBIYIIOT/Gd that if itis desired to turn the rodv 77to any particular point, pawl =87-is disengaged from'the teeth of the ratchetgear=88 andlthe collar 83 with the hand lever184 is movedor slidup on rod 77 "and thereafter :the'hand :lever 84 is: raised horizontally so that the tooth setsibetween LIE 'itheteethof the gear86. By turning the hand s'le'ver84in a hoi'izontalplane;therod 77 can "be rotateduntillthe lever 84 engages one of "the supports 82: "If it is desired to further rotate the rodw7.7-the lever 84 isrlowered, disengaging theitooth 85 fromthe gear 86, then the oollar'83 ,is;rotate d ina'ameverse v direction and thereafter thetOoth T85 is again -moved into'engagement with the,v-gear'*86 and the operation above ,described repeated. J The lower portion 7 Set :the rod 7 7 is held in position byzbearingi9l supported by cross beans 92, secured to the inside facing ofgthe -magazine. "Plac'ed on :the endof this portion 78 is a spreader 93 that hasan outwardly beveled' bottom .94. Thisubottoin 394 when the Vsspreader is in-closed position, wedges against ashoulder'95 on the "inside of the magazine .29 making-a gas-tight oint and at the same .time leaves @the spreader 93 clear .of'the genly ppsitioned.around rtherod '77 is a collar erator top and nozzle '31 so that the charger may be moved with the carriage 19 when desired. The spreader 93 has an inclined or slanted face 96 extending diagonally from the top edge 97 to the bottom 94. On the ex treme end of the upper portion 7 9 of the rod 77 is positioned a block 98 having an indicating arrow 99 to indicate the position of the spreader 93.

In operation, the magazine of the charging machine is placed over the generator 5 of the gas plant or set, lowered and secured to the nozzle 31 by manipulating the hand screws 34, as heretofore described. The fuel container 66, if not in a horizontal position as indicated in Fig. 1, is moved thereto by the action of the hydraulic cylinder 44 which through rack 46- aud levers and 60 rocks the shaft 53, thus moving levers 58, 63 and 62 to rock shaft 65, moving gate 71 from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3' to the position shown in Fig. 1 so that the gate 71 engages the chute end 70 of container 66. Further. movement of levers 58, 62 and 63 acts to swing container 66 about the pin 67 as a pivot into horizontal position thereby moving the weight lever 72 downwardly to close the switch 74; Movement of shaft 53 also swings lever 19 to position cover 54 the fuel nozz e 43.

Closing of the switch 74 sets the conveyor 75 in motion so that fuel. is delivered thereby to hopper or container 66. When a weighed or predetermined amount of fuel has been delivered'to the container 66, this container gravitates about 67 as a pivot, causing weight lever 72 to move upwardly opening switch 74 and stopping-the conveyor 75. Simultaneously with this rocking movement of container 66, hydraulic cylinder 44 moves rack 46 and rocks shaft 53 to move lever 19 and remove the cover 54 so that the chute end 70 of container 66 can move into open communication with the fuel nozzle 43. The

.leverage'and the operation of the hydraulic cylinder 44 are so arranged that the raising of the cover 54' and the tilting of the'conminer 66,- positioning the chute 70 adjacent the fuel nozzle opening do not interfere with each other. e i

This rocking movement imparted to shaft 53 does not at this stage of the operation move shaft and the check gate 71 secured thereto through the connecting levers 58, 62 and 63 as the gravitational movement of the container 66 about bearing pin 67' results in a lowering of end of the container and thus prevents lever 63 from rocking shaft 65 since there is no relative movement during the pivotal descent of container 66 between levers 63 and 62. The fuel is consequently maintained in the container 66 by the check gate 71. However, when the container 66 is in open communication with the fuel nozzle43 further movement of rack 46 acts to further rock shaft 53 to move levers 58, 63 and 62 to rock shaft 65 lowering gate 71 and permitting the charge to pass into the magazine 29. After fuel is placed in the magazine,

by the hydraulic cylinder 76 andthe inclined face 96 places the fuel over a limited or predetermined area or portion of the fuel bed in the generator 5. When the spreader is raised it is turned by the action of groove 90 cooperating with the pin 89, pawl 87 and the ratchet 88, so that a succeeding section of the generator may be charged 011 the next down stroke of the spreader. This operation of the spreader occurs at frequent intervals thereby resulting in an even distrilfflltlOIl of fuel over the entire fuel bed surace.

If it is desired to deposit fuel to any particular portion of the fuel bed, pawl 87 is disengaged from the ratchet 88 and the rod 7 7 is positioned by means of hand lever 84 as hereinbefore described.

It will be noted that in accordance with the present invention the spreader 93 functions to feed fuel to only a definite or predetermined portion of the fuel bed during each cycle of operation when the spreader is lowcred into the generator and does not feed the fuel indiscriminately to the entire top surface of the fuel bed as in the prior art devices in which a continuously rotating valve element or conicalshaped member, as in the patent to J A. Herrick No. 1,119,280,is utilized.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the arrangement, combination and construction of the various parts of the charging machine Without departing from the spirit of my invention, and this invention is accordingly not to be limited to the subject 'matter disclosed but only by the scope of the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A charging device comprising a car- I riage, a magazine on said carriage, means onsaid carriage for weighing fuel, means on said carriage for supplying said weighed fuel to said magazlne and means wlthin said magazine for supplying said fuel to the fuel bed. ,7

2. In combination with 'a generator of' a gas plant, a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon and removably secured to-said'generator, a fuel container on said carriage sepfrom and positioned adjacent to said magazine, means for supplying fuel to said container and. means for moving said container'to feed fuel to said magazine from said container.

3. In combination with a generator of a gas plant, a carriage, a magazine mounted tthereonrand removably securedto said 'gen-,

aerator, means on;saidacarriage'separate from and positioned adjacent to saidmagazine, for supplying saidv magazine with fuel and means I 5 for charging fuelto predetermined'portions ofsaid generator-from said magazine.

4. In combination with a generator ofa gas plant, a carriage, a magazinemounted there- :on and removably secured to said generator, a 1 fuel container'on said carriage separate from and positioned adjacent to said magazine, 'means. for supplying fuel to said magazine "from said container, a spreaderadapted to fit into said magazine and means for lowering 5 said spreader to charge said generator with 'fuel from the magazine. 5. In combination with a generatorof a gas 'plant,a carriage, a magazine .mounted thereonand removably secured'to said gen- 1 a0 erator, a fuel container, a fuel conveyor for supplying fuel'tosaid container, means for loading. fuel into said magazine from sa d container, a spreader adapted to fit into sa d --magazine and means for lowerlng said '25 spreader to charge said generator with fuel from'th'e magazine.

6. In combination, acarriage, a magazine mountedthereon, a fuel container, a conveyor for supplying fuel to said container, means 7 for weighing thefuel insaid container, and

-means for feeding 'fuelinto said magazine fromsaid container.

-7. A'chargercomprismg a carriage, a-magazine-mounted thereon, a fuel nozzle extending up fromsaid magazine, a gas tight cover for said fuel nozzle adapted to be openedby movement away'from said magazine, means for opening andclosingsaid cover and a fuel container on said carriage arranged to empty into said nozzle for loading said magazine with-fuel through said nozzle.

8. "In a charging device for gas'generators, a magazine, afuel nozzle on said magazine, a cover }for said nozzle, a fuel container ar- 945 rangedto move-into'communication with said fuel nozzle, check gate "in said container, means for removingsaid'cover as said fuel container moves intocommunication with said fuel nozzleand means'for moving said rcheck'gate'when said contamer is in communication with said nozzle. r

I :9. 'In acharging-device for gas generators, in combinatioma magazine, a fuel noz .zleion said magazine-,'a'cover for said nozzle,

'a'container, a check gate in said-container, and-means for synchronously moving said cover saidcontainer and said check gate.

10. A' charger comprising a carriage, a 'magazinemounte'd thereon, a fuel'nozzle e2;-

'1 tending from said magazine, a fuel container.

on saidcan'iageseparate from and positioned iadjacentito said magazine andhavinga chute end leading therefrom, a gate in said chute W iadaptedtoclosethe same and'means for openingsaidgateandloading said magazine with fuelfrom said container through said nozzle.

11. VA charger comprising a a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon, -means for :raising and lowering said magazine from and on 'said'carriage, a fuel nozzle extendingfrom 1 said magazine, a fuel container onsald carriage separate from'and positioned'adjacent 'to said'magazine, means for loading said magazme with fuel from sald container through said nozzle and means for feeding thefuel from said magazine. V 12. A charging device for gas generators comprising a truck, a magazine on said truck.

and adaptedto be secured in position over the charging opening of a gas generator, and

' means for elevating said truckframe and thus eflecting gas tight engagement-between said magazine and said generator.

j '13. A charging device for gas generators comprising a truck, a magazine mounted upon" 'said-truck'and adapted tobe secured in position over'the charging opening of a gas generator a lug on said =magaz1ne, a lever-:piv-

*otaLlly mounted on said truck and arranged to engage said lug, and means for moving said lever "to'engage said lug, thereby elevating vthetruck and effecting a gas tight'engage- 'ment between'the magazine:and said generator.

'14; A charging device 'for'gas generators I comprising a truck having hooks on the frame thereof, a magazine on saidtruck and-adapted to be secured in-position over the charging opening of a gas generator, a lug on said magazlne, a lever'pivotally mountedon said truck'and adapted to engage said lug, a casting on the generator providedwith extending lugs and means for moving said lever to engage said lug on the magazine thereby elevating the truck-causing the hooks to engage the extending lugs on said nozzle and forcingthe' magazine into gas tight engagement with said generator.

15. A charger comprising a, carriage, a

magazine :mounted thereon, a fuel nozzle .extendlng up from said magazine and .a gas ;-tight'cover for said nozzle, a fuel container having-a'chute end leading therefrom, a gate in said-chute adapted to close the same and :means for simultaneously openingsaid cover,

tilting said container so that the chute end will be adjacent-saidnozzle and opening'said gate, thereby permitting fuel to pass from said container through-said nozzle into said magazine.

16. A charger comprising a carriage, a 'magazine mounted thereon, a fuel nozzle extending up from said magazine andiagas tight cover' for said nozzle, a' fuel. container having a chute end'leading therefrom, a gate in said chute adapted to close the 1same, a hydraulic cylinder secured tothe side'of said nozzle and means operated by said cylinder for simultaneously opening said .c'over,tilting said container so that theichute end will be adjacent said nozzle and opening said gate, thereby permitting fuel to pass from said container through said nozzle into said magazine. i 17. In combinati0n,acarriage, amagazine mounted thereon, a fuel nozzle extending up from said magazine, shaft supports on said nozzle having a shaft positioned therein, a gas tight cover for said nozzle secured to said shaft, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston rod extending from both ends of said cylinder, means for reciprocating said rod in said cylinder, a rack placed on said piston rod, a fuel container having a chute end, a gate in said chute and means connecting said shaft, gate and rack, whereby said cover can be moved simultaneously with the tilting of said container and the opening of said gate by said piston rod.

18. In combination, a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon, a fuel nozzle extending up from said magazine, shaft supports on said nozzle, a shaft positioned therein, a gas tight cover for said nozzle secured to said. shaft, a lever fulcrumed on said shaft, a fuel container having a chute end, a gate in said chute, means connecting said gate with one end of said lever, a hydraulic cylinder positioned on said nozzle, a piston rod extending from both ends of said cylinder, means for reciprocating said rod in said cylinder, a rack placed on said piston rod and means connecting said rack with the other end of said lever so that reciprocation of said piston rod will cause simultaneous movement of said cover and containerand delayed movement of said gate.

19. In combination, a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon, means on said carriage for weighing fuel, means on said carriage for feeding said weighed fuel to said magazine,

a hydraulic cylinder secured to the top of said magazine, a piston rod extending down into said magazine from said cylinder and a spreader arranged to receive said fuel and secured to the end of said rod adapted to form a gas tight bottom for said magazine.

20. A construction as set forth in claim 19 wherein the spreader has an inclined surface, a shoulder is placed around the inside of said magazine adjacent the bottom thereof and the bottom of said spreader is beveled to form a gas tight joint when in closed position.

21. In combination, a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon, means for supplying said 1 magazine with fuel, a hydraulic cylinder secured to the top of said magazine, a casing supported above said cylinder, a piston rod in said cylinder having the lower end extending down into said magazine and the upper end through said casing, means for reciprocating said piston rod in said cylinder, and means in said casing for partially rotating said rod.

In combination, a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon, means for supplying said magazinewith fuel, a hydraulic cylinder 'secured to the topiofisaid magazine, a". casing supported above said cylinder, a piston rod in said cylinder having the lower end extending down into said magazine and: the upper portion through said casing, a spreader secured to the lower .end of said rod and adapted to form a gas tight bottom for said magazine, when in closed position, means for reciprocating said piston rod insaid eylin der and meansin said'casing for partially rotating said rod on each complete stroke, thereby changing the position of said spreader.

23. In combination, a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon, means for supplying said magazine with fuel, a hydraulic cylinder secured to the top of said magazine, a casing supported above said cylinder, a piston rod in said cylinder having the lower end extending down into said magazine and the upper portion through said casing, a spreader secured to the lower end of said rod and adapted to form a gas tight bottom for said magazine when in closed position, means for reciprocating said piston rod in said cylinder, a spiral groove in the upper portion of said rod, a ratchet gear having an inside pin, projecting into said groove, fixed for rotation in said casing and a pawl adapted to allow free movement of said ratchet on the downstroke of said rod and to become setin the teeth of said ratchet on the up stroke, thereby partially rotating the rod to change the position of said spreader.

24:. In combination, a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon, means for supplying saidmagazine with fuel, a hydraulic cylinder secured to the top of said magazine, a casing supported above said cylinder, a piston rod in said cylinder having'the lower end extending down into said magazine and the upper portion through said casing, means for reciprocating said piston rod in said cylinder and means for turning said rod, consisting of a gear keyed to said rod below said casing, a collar loosely positioned on the rod adjacent said cylinder, a hand lever pivoted to said collar and a projecting end on said hand lever adapted to be inserted between the teeth of said gear when the rod is at the end of its down stroke, by raising said hand lever to a horizontal position.

25. In combination, a carriage, a magazine mounted thereon, means for supplying said magazine with fuel, a hydraulic cylinder secured to the top of said magazine, a casin supported above said cylinder, a piston rod in said cylinder, having the lower end extending down into said magazine and the upper portion through said casing, a spreader secured to the lower end of said rod, means for reciprocating said piston rod in said cylinder, means for turning said rod and spreader, consisting of a gear keyed to said rod below said Casing, a1 collar loosely sitibnedt-around: S lid'TOdadj went-said rcyhnder: a hand lever" pivotedito "said collar and eprmecting end on said;ha;nd--.lever adaptedito be inserted between-theteethzofi saidageer when the rodi isat the end" ofits down stroke by raising said:

' lever to'a horizontal epositlon and auto-V 3 matimmeans :inisaid-casing for partiall rotwtingsaid rod on each complete stroke 1: 1ere-I by. changing the positiolixof said spreader.

Inl witness whereof I have hereto set. my-

h nd

V eGEORGE'IR-FSTEERE. 

